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Time of India
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Lalbiaknia takes the ISL leap with Highlanders
After ensuring that last season's ISL topscorer Alaaeddine Ajaraie stays on with them for another year, NorthEast United FC , on Sunday, announced the addition of more firepower to their attack by the signing of young Indian striker, Lalrinzuala Labiaknia. Lalbiaknia, who grabbed the spotlight in the 2023-24 season by breaking the record of most goals in an I-League season held by Sunil Chhetri and Mohammed Rafi with a tally of 15 goals, saw his contract with Aizawl FC expire after the 2024-25. However, it was the natural progression for one of the most exciting striking talents in the country to move into the top-tier Indian Super League after a brilliant journey in I-League with Aizawl FC — scoring another 12 goals for the Mizoram club during the last season. And the Mizo youngster was glad to have made his first stride in ISL with the club that represents the northeast. "I come from this region, so joining NorthEast United FC is a truly proud moment for me. When I heard about the offer, I instantly knew this was where I wanted to be," Lalrinzuala said. "Playing in ISL will be a new challenge, but I'm ready to give my best, score goals, and contribute to the team's success. I'm excited for this journey, and I believe we can achieve great things together." Head coach Juan Pedro Benali, who held the reins in a brilliant season for the Highlanders and one where they added their first silverware with the Durand Cup, was also excited to enhance the dynamism upfront with the inclusion of the 23-year-old striker. "We are delighted to welcome Lalrinzuala to the team," the coach said in a club statement. "He is a young Indian striker who brings a different profile to our attack with good instincts in the box. He has proved himself with consistency, and I believe he has the potential to grow immensely with us." NEUFC have been at work on strengthening their squad for the next season with the contract renewal by two years of defender Dinesh Singh and midfielder Fredy Chawngthansanga, apart from the staying back of their Moroccan star Ajaraie.
India Gazette
16 hours ago
- Sport
- India Gazette
ISL: Bengaluru FC, Odisha FC, NorthEast United FC, Kerala Blasters announce departures
New Delhi [India], June 1 (ANI): Indian Super League (ISL) teams announced the departure of several players through their social media posts on Saturday. NorthEast United FC bade farewell to Mirshad Michu and Phalguni Singh, while Odisha FC parted ways with Mourtada Fall and Ahmed Jahouh, as per the ISL official website. Kwame Peprah, Ishan Pandita, and Kamaljit Singh left Kerala Blasters FC, while Harsh Patre and Jessel Carneiro said goodbye to Bengaluru FC, highlighting today's transfer wrap. Patre and Carneiro part ways with Bengaluru FC: Harsh Parte said goodbye to Bengaluru FC following his impactful stint, which came to an end. The midfielder has been part of the Blues' reserve setup and was promoted to the senior squad in 2023. He has been quite impressive during his time, recording 21 appearances for BFC in these two seasons. Patre clocked 202 minutes on the field in the 2024-25 season and averaged 15 passes per game. He also won seven duels, completed seven recoveries, and created a chance in a recently concluded campaign. Jessel Carneiro, who also joined the club in 2023, left the Blues after his two-year spell. He made eight appearances in his debut season but didn't feature in the league this season. The left back logged 483 minutes on the field in Bengaluru colours in the 2023-24 season. He also maintained 83% passing accuracy, created eight chances, and racked up an assist to his name. Odisha FC bid adieu to the foreign Duo: Odisha FC parted ways with seasoned campaigners Mourtada Fall and Ahmed Jahouh. Both foreigners played a pivotal role for the Kalinga Warriors since joining the club in 2023. Fall has been a rock at the back for OFC. Known for his marshalling, defending, and heading prowess, the Senegalese centre-back has been a cornerstone in Sergio Lobera's backline. He featured in 41 ISL games in Odisha colours, helping his side keep nine clean sheets. He also scored eight goals in two seasons, adding a dynamic versatility to the Kalinga Warriors' style of play. Jahouh also joined OFC in 2023, following in Fall's footsteps. The creator-in-chief has been sensational at the heart of the pitch, controlling the game's tempo with his versatile passing range and sheer touch of brilliance. The Moroccan midfielder played 38 games in two years at OFC. He created 83 chances during his time with the Kalinga Warriors and also contributed 11 goals. Peprah, Pandita, and Kamaljit leave Kerala Blasters FC: Kerala Blasters FC announced the departure of striking duo Kwame Peprah and Ishan Pandita as well as custodian Kamaljit Singh. Peprah joined the Blasters in 2023 and played a key role in KBFC's attacking unit. He scored eight goals in his 35 appearances and also created 23 chances during this phase. From rousing the energetic Kochi crowd with his thunderstorm strikes and scoring crucial goals in crunch moments, Peprah's impact has been instrumental at KBFC. The Ghanaian striker averaged 0.26 goals per match in the 2024-25 season and also maintained a 19.35% goal conversion rate. Another forward, Ishan Pandita, also bade farewell to the Blasters after joining the club in 2023 from Jamshedpur FC. Pandita missed the majority of the 2024-25 season due to an injury. He featured in only three games and clocked just 68 minutes on the field. However, Pandita could not record any goal contribution in the ISL for the Blasters. Goalkeeper Kamaljit Singh will also leave the club after his loan stint from Odisha FC ends. He featured in KBFC's home game against FC Goa but suffered a 0-2 defeat in Kochi. The Blasters also announced the departures of fitness coach Werner Martens, goalkeeping coach Slaven Progovecki, and assistant coach Tomasz Tchorz. Mirshad and Phalguni leave NorthEast United FC NorthEast United FC confirmed the departure of goalkeeper Mirshad Michu and midfielder Phalguni Singh. Michu joined the club in 2021 from East Bengal FC and has been part of the Highlanders for the last four seasons. The veteran shot-stopper featured in 40 ISL matches and registered six clean sheets. Michu played a key role under the bars over the years with his agile saves and leadership skills. Michu only featured in a single game in the 2024-25 ISL season against East Bengal FC and helped his team keep a clean sheet in their commanding 4-0 victory in Shillong. Phalguni Singh joined Juan Pedro Benali's men in 2023. He made a total of 24 appearances for NEUFC over the two seasons. The dynamic midfielder enjoyed a remarkable debut season with the Highlanders and recorded four goal contributions. However, Phalguni featured only in four games in the 2024-25 season, where his game time was limited to 188 minutes. (ANI)
India Gazette
2 days ago
- Sport
- India Gazette
Pinpoint precision: Players with best shot conversion rate in ISL 2024-25
New Delhi [India], May 31 (ANI): Players who maintain a high conversion rate are often the difference-makers in tight matches. The shot conversion rate -- the percentage of shots that end up in the back of the net -- is a key measure of a player's precision. During the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 season, several players stood out not just for the number of goals they scored but for how efficiently they did it, as per the ISL official website. Let's take a look at the players with the best shot conversion rate in ISL 2024-25: Jerry Mawihmingthanga (Odisha FC) - 27.78 per cent shot conversion rate: Odisha FC's Jerry Mawihmingthanga led the league in shot conversion, turning 27.78% of his attempts into goals. The winger rediscovered his scoring touch, netting five goals this season -- the same as he managed across the previous two seasons combined. Though the Kalinga Warriors fell short of their expectations, Mawihmingthanga's resurgence has been a bright spot and a promising sign for next season. Jesus Jimenez (Kerala Blasters FC) - 25.58% shot conversion rate: One of the major talking points surrounding the Blasters' camp was how they would cope with the departure of Golden Boot winner Dimitrios Diamantakos. That question was answered by their new signing Jesus Jimenez, who took over the goalscoring duties seamlessly. Despite Kerala Blasters FC struggling with consistency throughout the season, the Spanish forward found the back of the net regularly and contributed well to the attack. Jimenez hit the target 11 times this season and boasts the league's second-best shot conversion rate of 25.58%. Jamie Maclaren (Mohun Bagan Super Giant) - 25% shot conversion rate: Good things come to those who wait -- and that was the case with Jamie Maclaren at Mohun Bagan Super Giant. The Aussie forward arrived with high expectations, but early-season injuries disrupted his rhythm. However, as the league progressed, Maclaren found his form and showcased his class. He finished with 12 goals -- including one in the ISL Cup final against Bengaluru FC -- with a shot conversion rate of 25%. Luka Majcen (Punjab FC) - 25% shot conversion rate: Majcen scored 10 goals in 20 league appearances for Punjab FC this season, maintaining a 25% shot conversion rate for the Shers. The captain once again led from the front, and his numbers reflected his impact. His sharpness and aggression in front of the goal were on full display, underlined by his efficiency in converting chances. Subhasish Bose (Mohun Bagan Super Giant) - 25% shot conversion rate: There was hardly anything Mohun Bagan Super Giant captain Subhasish Bose got wrong this season. From marshalling the backline to making decisive contributions on set-pieces, he was a key figure in their historic ISL double-winning campaign. While his defensive qualities are well known, it was his attacking returns that turned heads this season. Bose netted six goals -- the highest among defenders -- with an impressive 25% shot conversion rate. (ANI)
Boston Globe
3 days ago
- Sport
- Boston Globe
MIAA boys' lacrosse tournament: Favorites, sleepers, players to watch, Divisions 1-4
St. John's Prep is looking to win a fifth straight Division 1 title, but rival BC High has secured the top seed in D1. The field is wide open in Division 2 with red-hot Billerica checking in as the top seed ahead of defending champion Longmeadow. Medfield is the prohibitive favorite to repeat in Division 3 and Cohasset has a good shot to win a seventh state title by running through the Division 4 bracket this spring. Advertisement Here is a deeper dive on all four brackets: Division 1 Favorite: No. 2 St. John's Prep. Sleepers: No. 8 Bishop Feehan, No. 9 Xaverian Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Players to watch: attack Nick Emsing (BC High), long-stick midfielder Flynn Baker (Franklin), midfielder Cooper Masso (Bishop Feehan), attack Ryan Martin (Winchester), long pole Jack Weissenburger (St. John's Prep). Best first-round matchup: Monday, No. 19 Newton North (10-8) at No. 14 Natick (13-5), 7 p.m. Longest first-round road trip: Saturday, No. 25 Barnstable at No. 8 Bishop Feehan — 69.5 miles. Analysis: While St. John's Prep is not the top seed, the defending champions will still have home field advantage until the tournament moves to predetermined sites in the state semifinals. BC High arguably draws a tougher side of the bracket with capable sleepers Bishop Feehan and Xaverian vying for a state quarterfinals bid against the top seed. Prep returned 22 seniors from last year's state title team and boasts a nearly impenetrable defense to go along with another faceoff specialist (junior Will Crawford) who is among the best in the region. After Needham made a run to the state finals last year, Lincoln-Sudbury, Andover, and Acton-Boxborough stand out as the public schools capable of crashing the party with a deep tournament run. The last public school to win the title in 2019, L-S went 12-4 against the hardest schedule in the state this season per the MIAA power rankings. New head coach Chris Baker leads Franklin in the tournament for the first time, Jon Smith makes his state tournament debut as Concord-Carlisle coach, and Adam Pascal is steering the ship at Catholic Memorial after helping Belmont Hill win the ISL last spring. George Jenkins, the new head coach at Newton North, spent nine years coaching at Natick, and those Bay State rivals face off in the first round. Advertisement Division 2 Favorites: No. 1 Billerica, No. 2 Longmeadow Sleepers: No. 6 Reading, No. 10 Westwood Players to watch: midfielder Charlie Carroll (Marshfield), attack Tommy Farrell (North Andover), midfielder Brayden Mattera (Walpole), attack Cole Hogencamp (Mansfield), long-stick midfielder Aedan Milligan (Hingham). Best first-round matchup: Sunday, No. 26 Masconomet (13-5) at No. 7 Marshfield (12-5), 4 p.m. Longest first-round road trip: Monday, No. 18 West Springfield at No. 15 Plymouth South — 131 miles. Analysis: This division is sure to present fascinating matchups in June with at least eight teams clearly capable of navigating a minefield for a state title. Billerica enters the fray on a 17-game win streak, Longmeadow has won two of the past three titles, Reading has won two of the past five titles, Hingham has been a powerhouse in D1 and D2 depending on alignment, Duxbury is looking to get back to the mountaintop after losing in the state final two years ago, Mansfield's star-studded young roster is taking the program to new heights, Walpole's offense is explosive, and Marshfield has a strong core led by senior Charlie Carroll and junior Jon Sullivan. Advertisement Beyond those top eight seeds, No. 9 King Philip managed to defeat Franklin in May for the first time in nine years, and No. 12 North Andover boasts a dangerous offense. Westwood hosts Tri-Valley League rival Hopkinton in the first round a couple weeks after winning that matchup, 11-8. Coming off the program's first Northeastern Conference title, Masconomet is much better than your typical No. 26 seed, and the depth of contenders in this bracket continues down the line with No. 17 Silver Lake, No. 21 Grafton, and No. 33 Whittier capable of surprising foes. Division 3 Favorite: No. 1 Medfield Sleepers: No. 6 Newburyport, No. 8 Wakefield Players to watch: goalie Zach Coelho (Nauset), long-stick midfielder Ben Lusby (Medfield), midfielder Willy Robinson (Scituate), attack Carter Scott (Newburyport), midfielder Travis Smith (Falmouth). Best first-round matchup: No. 22 Apponequet (14-3) at No. 11 Shawsheen (17-1), TBA Longest road trip: Friday, No. 21 Bishop Stang at No. 12 Dover-Sherborn — 58.3 miles. Analysis: Medfield has taken down some of the top D1 and D2 programs in the state and lost close ones late to Longmeadow and Reading. That sets the stage to focus on winning a second straight title and the program's ninth championship over the past two decades. Most of their challengers come from the south, with No. 5 Scituate, and No. 2 Nauset and No. 3 Falmouth bringing back key pieces from their final four teams. Newburyport is loaded offensively and getting healthy at the right time. Wakefield is a strong program from the Middlesex League and No. 10 Burlington surged after rough first half of the season. Dover-Sherborn looks to make a run under new head coach Dan Morris and No. 18 Bedford can lean on the postseason experience of longtime Concord-Carlisle coach Tom Dalicandro, now an assistant under first-year coach Brad Sylvester. By sheer coincidence, Shawsheen hosts Apponequet in a great first-round rematch after Apponequet took down the visiting Rams, 13-11, in a first-round matchup last spring. Advertisement Division 4 Favorites: No. 1 Cohasset, No. 3 Norwell Sleepers: No. 9 Lynnfield, No. 11 Abington Players to watch: midfielder Kelan Cardinal (Lynnfield), attack Liam Keaney (Swampscott), attack Quinn Gary (Weston), midfielder Jack McCavanagh (Manchester Essex), attack Finn Wright (Ipswich). Best first-round matchup: Friday, No. 23 South Shore Vo-Tech (16-2) at No. 10 Pentucket (12-6), 4:30 p.m. Longest road trip: Saturday, No. 29 Lenox Memorial at No. 4 Nantucket — 219 miles. Analysis: Shane Mulcahy netted the overtime winner in Cohasset's 12-11 victory over Norwell May 19 in a South Shore League clash that could have been a state final preview. Both programs won titles in 2023, as Norwell clinched a second straight D3 championship before shifting down to D4 in 2024. A few Cape Ann League programs are capable of breaking up the South Shore showdown with No. 5 Ipswich, No. 7 Manchester Essex, and No. 9 Lynnfield boasting impressive resumes. Don't leave out No. 2 Weston, which closed the season with impressive wins over Masconomet, Concord-Carlisle, and Manchester Essex. Plus there is defending champion and fourth-seeded Nantucket, which closed last season on an 18-game win streak. Down the table, No. 15 Swampscott and No. 16 Winthrop have been battle-tested against bigger programs in the Northeastern Conference, and No. 23 South Shore Vo-Tech is undefeated aside from two close nonleague losses to No. 11 Abington. Advertisement Nate Weitzer can be reached at
India Gazette
4 days ago
- Business
- India Gazette
Oscar Bruzon signs one-year extension with East Bengal FC
ANI 29 May 2025, 23:51 GMT+10 New Delhi [India], May 29 (ANI): Indian Super League (ISL) side East Bengal FC, on Thursday, announced that head coach Oscar Bruzon has signed a one-year contract extension, committing his future to the club until the end of the 2025-26 season. Under Bruzon's stewardship, the Red and Gold Brigade topped Group A and reached the quarter-finals of the inaugural AFC Challenge League last season, as per the ISL official website. Since taking charge midway through the season, the Spanish tactician led East Bengal to its highest points tally (28) in an ISL season, despite the club's poor start to the campaign. Fully supportive of Bruzon's vision, Vibhash Vardhan Agarwal of Emami Group said as quoted by the ISL website, 'Coach Oscar has brought a renewed sense of purpose to the team. His dedication to our vision of challenging for titles and ability to inspire both players and fans make him the ideal leader for our club's future.' Commenting on his extension, Bruzon said, 'I am thrilled to extend my journey with East Bengal FC for the upcoming season. While the previous season presented challenges, particularly after a slow start, we have collectively learned from those experiences and are now fully focused on reigniting the winning mentality that defines this great club. Our loyal supporters deserve nothing less than a team that reflects their passion, resilience and unwavering belief in East Bengal's legacy.' (ANI)
